2016

The EU Commission is planning to ban geo-blocking and other discrimination based on nationality, place of residence or establishment in order to improve cross-border online trade in goods and services. In cep's view, the bans will only rarely result in customers buying more across borders.

2016

The EU Commission proposes the introduction of a "Pillar of Social Rights" which is to contain principles for the approximation of the social policies of the Member States. In cep's view, the approximation of social standards is inadvisable because the capacity of the national social systems is too varied.

2016

With a strategy for low-emission mobility, the EU Commission intends to help reduce CO2 emissions and air pollutants caused by transport. In cep's view, the Commission's proposed measures are largely unsuitable for reducing these emissions caused by transport in a manner which is effective and ensures "technology neutrality".

2016

This cepStudy examines the regulatory role of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) and the EU Commission. cep makes ten recommendations for improving control and scrutiny of the ESAs' and the Commission’s activities at Level 2 and Level 3. These include calling on the Council to strengthen its monitoring structures. The ESAs should only be able to develop guidelines where Parliament and the Council do not object.

2016

On the basis of an EU Commission Regulation, the emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the land use and forestry sector will be fully included into EU climate policy. As a result, the quantity of GHG emissions in this area will no longer be permitted to be greater than the removals of GHGs by way of absorption into the ground or by plants or wood products.

2016

The Commission wants to press ahead with the standardisation of information and communications technology (ICT). It is focussing, in this regard, on the "priorities" of cloud computing, the internet of things, 5G communications, cybersecurity and data technologies. In cep's view, setting priorities is appropriate.

2016

The EU Commission wants to push ahead with the digital transformation of public administrations. In cep's view, cross-border eGovernment services facilitate the mobility of citizens and cross-border business operations. The once-only collection of data from companies and citizens increases the efficiency of public administrations.

2016

The EU Commission will allocate Member States with national targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) in sectors not subject to EU emissions trading (ETS) (e.g. transport and agriculture). It also proposes flexibility options which Member States can use to achieve their national targets.

2016

Calculating redistribution in the European Union has so far been based exclusively on the EU budget. Its figures are used to determine the "net recipients" and "net contributors". In cep's view, this falls short. A comprehensive Study now shows which countries profited most from the redistribution instruments in the EU between 2008 and 2015.

2016

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is an ecologically sound and economically effective instrument for climate protection. In cep's view, the ETS can only contribute to global climate protection if carbon emissions that are reduced in the EU are not simply moved to third countries (carbon leakage).